The Pittsburgh Steelers have been rebuilding their offensive line for the last two offseasons. They selected a number of players, including and Broderick Jones, two tackles. They entered the competition for starting positions alongside the heavily criticized veteran Dan Moore Jr.
Before starting his rookies in the lineup, Mike Tomlin, the head coach of the Steelers, is known to make them wait and learn. Last season, he did that with Jones, who was benched before having an opportunity to play. This season, it appeared that he was treating Fautanu in the same way.
All three tackles, though, had been recovering from minor injuries, and Jones appeared to be having trouble getting comfortable. After some setbacks in the preseason, Tomlin benched Jones against the Denver Broncos in Week 2 due to a string of grave mistakes. He was replaced by Fautanu, who played incredibly well but later sustained a serious injury of his own.
It was revealed that Fautanu will probably miss the rest of the regular season in order to recover from his knee injury. This forced Jones back into the starting lineup for the games against the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Chargers. Compared to when he played the previous season, his performance doesn’t seem to be as steady.
Trai Essex, a former offensive guard for the Steelers, has joined 93.7 The Fan’s Morning Show. Someone asked him about his thoughts on Jones’ play. Although nobody likes to see a comrade suffer an injury, Jones has been given his place back on the team, and only he can decide what to do with it, according to Adam Crowley, the host of the program.
believe he performed better against the Chargers,” Essex said. “I believe that was seen by all. He was coming out with something to prove, and he had an attitude. He’s been reading the criticism and I think he’s taking it to heart. I think he took a step back in this Colts game. I believe that all of the hoopla and criticism about how poorly he’s performed is starting to get to him. He needs to tidy up a few things. He is necessary to us.”
Jones struggled with Dayo Odeyingbo, the Colts’ reserve defensive end, even though he was positioned across from him, as ssex pointed out. He said that Odeyingbo applied pressure, including a sack and a half, to quarterback Justin Fields.
Essex stated that Jones appeared more impressive against the Chargers than he did against the Colts. He thinks Jones is allowing all the criticism and background noise to enter his mind. He believes that Jones is incurring expensive fines and making errors in part because of this. He brought up Jones’ hit against the Colts, which ought to have resulted in a penalty. He claimed that Jones was even after Spencer Anderson, who had arrived late. With so many young players on this offensive line, Jones is essential, and the team cannot afford for him to impede his own progress.
Steelers’ Offensive Line Suddenly Got Much Younger
This season, the majority of the seasoned veterans of the Steelers’ offensive line have left the team. With Nate Herbig’s preseason injury, it all began. Subsequently, Isaac Seumalo, the composed and exemplary leader, sustained a pectoral injury and has been absent. Anderson and rookie Mason McCormick would so alternately fill in for
But before it could actually occur, during the Colts game, James Daniels—possibly the greatest lineman on the team and the most seasoned member of this offense—went off with a ruptured Achilles. These young players have all been compelled to step up as a result.
All of them are aware that a team is only as strong as its weakest player, and none of them want to be that player after hearing Tomlin discuss the “next man up.” In Week 5, the Steelers take on the Dallas Cowboys, and their defense will test this young team.
Regarding Jones’ performances in the last two games, what are your thoughts? Toggle to